CHILE

Every January 1, as a part of the new year’s tradition, people resolve to do all kinds of things such as eat healthier, get back in shape or finally ask for that much-deserved raise. While it’s typically hard to keep such promises throughout the year (when was the last time you used your gym membership?), one pledge you should really keep is your resolution to travel more. Plus, jet-setting from destination to destination typically leads to lower stress levels, more productivity at work and can even produce better relationships with friends and family. To help you out with a few ideas, we gathered together a list of South American cruises that you can embark on in 2017.

The concept of grapes and winemaking was little known in Chile before Spanish conquistadors invaded during the 1500s, planting Pais vines which are now considered the country’s national grape. At the time, Pais, also known as “mission grapes,” fed a growing need for sacramental wine used during Catholic masses.

It’s an exciting time in luxury travel. With an experiential focus, the industry is continuously creating new immersive opportunities for sojourners looking for creative getaways. These curated packages are even being fashioned by some of our favorite luxury brands such as Bentley’s Be Extraordinary experiences. Launched late last year, the automaker began organizing invitation-only gatherings featuring some of the world’s leading minds.

In our opinion, traveling and eating well go hand in hand. There’s nothing better than digging into a plate of paella in Barcelona, sipping on Tom Yum Goong soup in Bangkok or biting into your first gyro in Athens. But it’s also the undiscovered foodie destinations that peak our interest year after year. Whether you’re a studied gourmand or just enjoy trying new dishes, the globe is full of destinations that are begging to be noticed. In 2016, these four locales have caused us to take another look at their culinary prowess and deem them the best new foodie cities of the year.

If you don’t believe the forest is a magical place, a stay at the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve in Chile’s Patagonian rain forest will likely change your mind. The reserve is home to eight hotels and lodges that differ based on the kind of experience you’d like to have.

With non-stop flights to Santiago from Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and New York, not to mention convenient connecting options via Lima, Panama City and São Paulo among others, Chile is closer than you might think. The country is a narrow band of land bookended by the wild Pacific coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes on either side.

Forming a network of lodges in some of Chile’s most remote landscapes, Tierra Hotels offers travelers the chance to visit the country’s (and the world’s) most pristine, dramatic settings without sacrificing luxury. These are three of the brand’s hotels that offer a mix of desert adventures, beachside lounging and Patagonian relaxation:

When it comes to Chile’s wine regions, you might recognize names like the Colchagua, Rappel and Casablanca valleys. But it is the up-and-coming Cachapoal (near Colchagua and about 90 minutes from Santiago by car) that is making a name for itself these days thanks to one of the country’s premier wineries and a new art-driven luxury hotel.

In 2014, all eyes were on Brazil for the World Cup and come 2016, it will again sit in the spotlight with the Summer Olympics taking place in Rio de Janiero. In any year, travelers heading to Peru typically plan on visiting Machu Picchu, while in Argentina, lovers seek out Buenos Aires for a romantic vacation. So what do these destinations have in common? They are some of South America’s most sought-after cities and are in turn, flooded with tourists from all over the world.

Boho-chic is best showcased in boutique hotels and is even better when such personality-packed properties are located in equally vivid neighborhoods. Chile's capital city is home to one such property, the brilliantly-bohemian Aubrey Santiago, located in the colorful neighborhood known as Bellavista.

Once a palace, the Palacio Astoreca Hotel is now a whimsical and chic 23-room retreat that clings to the hillside of the hip neighborhood of Cerro Alegre. Without a doubt, the hotel is the prime pick in the city of Valparaiso, Chile's cultural hub which bubbles with vibrant restaurants, artisan boutiques, and quaint sidewalk cafes.

While Brazil has the Amazon, Northern Chile has Atacama — the expansive desert region in the north covering 40,000 square miles and filled with explosive geysers and throngs of flamingos. It is the arid equivalent of the Amazon, and just as remarkable. Within the Atacama, secluded on the outskirts of the local village of San Pedro, is a resort that matches the enchantment of the desert wonder, the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa.

Seabourn Cruises’ 21-day Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia features an itinerary that is filled with a wide range of experiences all packed into one trip; and it may even be the answer to your holiday gifting problems. Spend time with penguins, sneak away to “The Switzerland of South America” and view Chilean fjords, all the while cruising along the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans — that sounds like a great gift to me.

One of the best things about being a travel writer is getting to sit at a desk all day scouring the internet to find the hottest new destination, the craziest hotels or the most thrilling adventures around the globe; all the while, adding favorites to our own personal travel bucket list. When a really intriguing hotel pops up, we can’t help but share it with you, since we’re guessing you’re as much of a travel junkie as us.

Part of the excitement of traveling is getting to experience the local cuisine of each new destination; likewise, part of the anxiety of traveling is trying the local cuisine…if you know what I mean. To accommodate both emotions, Discovery Adventures in partnership with Discovery Communications and G Adventures has created a trip for the ultimate foodie traveler. The Argentina & Chile Gourmet Adventure is a 12-day journey in November that highlights South American foods and wines, specifically chosen by knowledgeable tour operators.